Single-use plastics to be banned from October 2023

A range of single-use plastics will be banned in England from October 2023, to minimise plastic pollution.

The ban will include single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers.

According to estimates, England uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery — most of which are plastic — and 721 million single-use plates per year, but only 10% are recycled.

If 2.7 billion pieces of cutlery were lined up they would go round the world over eight and a half times (based on a 15cm piece of cutlery).

Plastic pollution takes hundreds of years to break down and inflicts serious damage to oceans, rivers and land. It is also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, from the production and manufacture of the plastic itself to the way it is disposed.

From October, people won’t be able to buy these products from any business - this includes retailers, takeaways, food vendors and the hospitality industry.

The ban will not apply to plates, trays, and bowls that are used as packaging in shelf-ready pre-packaged food items, such as pre-packaged salad bowls and bowls filled with food at the counter of a takeaway.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: “Plastic is a scourge which blights our streets and beautiful countryside and I am determined that we shift away from a single-use culture.

“By introducing a ban later this year we are doubling down on our commitment to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste.

“We will also be pressing ahead with our ambitious plans for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and consistent recycling collections in England.”

It is expected that banning these items will have a significant impact in reducing plastic waste and littering in England.

Previous bans, such as banning straws, stirrers and cotton buds, have reduced the damage from these plastics. Before these products were banned, it was estimated straws, stirrers and cotton buds collectively contributed to around 5.7% of marine litter.
 

Read more: Ban to be enforced on plastic straws, drinks stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds Published: 26 May 2019

The government is also considering further measures around other commonly littered and problematic plastic items, including wet wipes, tobacco filters and sachets.